MEET OUR
LEADERSHIP TEAM

Tupelo Honey’s success depends on our people. Our restaurants can only prosper and provide opportunities for employment and growth when we continually improve ourselves, and the work we do. We recognize however, that success is not measured by sales, guest counts, and numbers alone. We are measured as much by the way in which we achieve our goals, as we are by the actual achievements themselves. We believe that a commitment to uncompromising values and integrity should always guide our decisions and actions as we pursue our goals.

STEPHEN D. FRABITORE

CEO AND OWNER

Since purchasing the original and only Tupelo Honey Cafe in downtown Asheville in June of 2008, Frabitore has worked diligently to highlight the unique culinary scope and environment of the restaurant. Recognizing the “fandemonium” around everything Tupelo, Frabitore was instrumental in securing three nationally published cookbooks, forming a Board of Directors, hiring knowledgeable and skilled employees and plotting a course for expansion. Under his leadership, the company has forged ahead with meaningful and exceptional metrics within the restaurant sector. The company will operate 15 stores at the conclusion of 2018. The company, as well as Frabitore, continues to be recognized locally, regionally and nationally for their innovative cuisine and skill in translating the brand into new markets.

Eric is a born-and-bred New Yorker who has always been obsessed with Southern cuisine and spirits. He is a four-time semifinalist for the James Beard Award categories of Rising Star Chef and Best Chef Northeast and was named Food & Wine Magazine’s “People’s Best New Chef of New York” in 2012. Eric joined the team at Danny Meyer’s iconic Union Square Café in 2000, where he continued to develop his culinary skills.

Eric set out to start a joint venture as founding partner and executive chef of Restaurant North in 2010. He received numerous accolades, including Top Newcomer in Zagat, Best New Restaurant in Westchester magazine, and a Don’t Miss and two Excellent reviews from the New York Times.

Chef Eric joined Tupelo in October 2016 and has been a leader in transforming and positioning the menu for an upscale casual guest. His creativity, passion and leadership have brought an elevated touch to Tupelo’s signature spin on Southern classics.

Eric Gabrynowicz

Executive Chef

Christin joined Tupelo Honey in August 2014 after spending 14 years in the advertising agency and publishing worlds. Her skills cross multiple disciplines including digital marketing, paid media, brand strategy, consumer research and local market execution. Her award-winning work has won 17 industry awards and has been featured in numerous trade and business publications like the Wall Street Journal and Business Week.

Christin continues to serve as a leader in the industry and her community. She is a featured speaker at industry trade conferences like Food Service Tech and serves as the Fundraising Committee Chair for her children’s elementary school and as a mentor in Venture Asheville’s Elevate, assisting start-ups with marketing strategies and tactics.

Christin Prince

Senior VP of Marketing

Tyler was born and raised in Winston-Salem and spent his childhood summers and vacations in the mountains of Western, North Carolina. Before settling back in NC, Tyler took over as Food & Beverage Manager for the 4-diamond Wild Sage Restaurant at the award-winning Rusty Parrot Lodge in 2009. In 2011, he accepted a position as Manager and Assistant Sommelier at the 6-time James Beard awarding-winning and world-renowned Commander’s Palace.

Tyler joined Tupelo Honey in 2014 where he quickly introduced a beverage program focused on local, sustainable, and quality products with classic techniques. After helping to expand Tupelo Honey’s beverage program and sales, store profitability, recognition on a national level, and redefining Tupelo Honey’s signature service, Tyler was promoted to VP of Operations where he takes pride in leading a team of talented individuals committed to providing excellent hospitality in every Tupelo Honey location.

Tyler Alford

VP of Operations

Caroline joined Tupelo Honey as part of the initial senior leadership team in 2013. Prior to her role at Tupelo Honey, Caroline worked in operations and HR leadership with a North Carolina-based natural and organic grocer, helping them to become a national brand of over 30 locations.

Since joining Tupelo, she has been responsible for the company’s workforce expansion efforts in areas such as talent acquisition; benefits; compliance; and employee training and development—growing the brand from 2 locations and less than 100 employees to 15 locations and nearly 1,400 employees, in less than 4 years.

Under Caroline’s leadership Tupelo Honey has received numerous accolades and articles for the development of innovative employment practices such as: their Honeypot incentive program; Fair Wage Commitment; and recent partnership utilizing technology to simplify the tip pooling process.

Caroline Skinner

Senior VP of Human Resources

Caitlin joined Tupelo in November of 2013 to lead the purchasing and supply chain department. In her tenure here, she has overseen the streamlining of our supply chain, the negotiation of many financially favorable supplier contracts, and most near and dear to her heart, a strategic push towards clean ingredients and responsible sourcing combined with conscious and effective cost management. Caitlin leads the purchasing department to put food safety, product quality, and thoughtful sourcing at the forefront of every vendor and product selection.

Caitlin joined Tupelo most recently from the New York restaurant industry as a buyer and importer of Italian specialty foods, and managing a specialty wholesale company serving 50 of New York’s finest restaurants. She is a 2008 graduate of Emerson College in Boston, MA and avid outdoor enthusiast.

Caitlin McMahon

VP of Purchasing

Nick joined Tupelo Honey as Controller in 2018 and is currently serving as VP of Finance. Prior to joining Tupelo, he was a Global Corporate Finance Director of a publicly traded automotive supplier with responsibility for global finance initiatives aimed at improving processes and controlling costs. He brings knowledge from a wide range of experience covering public accounting, private company controlling, and public company accounting and finance.

He is an avid sports fan and spends his free time involved in his children’s activities, which also provides him the opportunity to give back to the community, most recently coaching youth baseball in Hendersonville, NC.